There are a few webinar tools you will need to run a professional and effective webinar. Because the effectiveness of your webinar begins with the webinar set up.

The first webinar tool you need for creating your webinar is a webinar set up sheet. On this sheet you need to list:

- your webinar OBJECTIVE (sales, a phone appointment, education?)

- the TITLE of your webinar (This should describe the benefit of your webinar to your viewers.)

- the CONTENT of your webinar

- your STORY (This is "why" you are qualified to host your webinar.)

- CASE STUDIES (real-life examples of how you, or others you have helped, have been successful with your product or services)

- EDUCATION (This is when you can give them some of your best tips and tricks for their business.)

- ROAD BLOCKS to success (These might be setbacks your viewers could face.)

- CALL TO ACTION (what do you want them to do? Visit your web site and buy your product or service? Call your office for an appointment? Sign up for a paid webinar class?)

The second webinar tool is a background template for your powerpoint presentation. When you create your template, include these things:

- background graphic - Have a graphic made that sets you apart and conveys the message of the webinar. Paste this graphic as the background image on your master slide.

- your picture - Again on the master slide, insert your picture in the top left corner so that people can identify with you as a person. It also helps the audience to link a face with your voice.

- bullet points that show when you mouse click - Use the "custom animations" feature in Powerpoint and make each line appear upon mouse click in the master slide.

-call to action URL - Write out your website's URL at the top of your master slide so that your "call to action" can be seen on each slide. Your website should feature a buy button, a phone number to call, an email option form, etc.

To set up a webinar, you need the following tools:

-a webinar hosting company - A hosting company enables you to show audio and video to hundreds of people at the same time. Some companies to consider are GoToWebinar, Manexa, Omnovia, Web Ex and Adobe Connect.

- registration web page - You can use the registration page given to you by the webinar hosting company or you can create your own (recommended). Remember to use benefit-driven language to entice them to register for your webinar. "What's in it for them?"

- autoresponder - You want to remind them of the upcoming webinar (even after they register). And you definitely want to follow up with them AFTER the webinar with your call to action.

So those are the essential webinar tools. Give them careful thought, set them up, and you will likely see HUGE results.